The Crab
Nebula was the first entry in Charles Messier's famous
catalog, and thus designated as M1. MI is also known as the Crab Nebula due to its vague
resemblance to the horseshoe crab. M1 is actually a remnant of
a supernova from a star that exploded in 1054 C.E., and chronicled
by Chinese astronomers as bright enough to be seen in daylight for
days! Type II supernovae occur when a giant star (at least
nine times as massive as our sun) runs out of nuclear fuel, begins
to collapse, and then rebounds in a huge explosion that can be
brighter than an entire galaxy! The filaments in the Crab Nebula are remnants of the
original star's atmosphere, energized by synchrotron radiation from
the rapidly spinning neutron star (a pulsar) at its core.

Comments: Cirrus clouds interfered
with some of the light frames. This is a target more
suited to a 12" aperture scope or larger in order to reveal the
more subtle filament details, but overall I am pleased with my
first attempt at capturing and processing this image.